Inmates of the Kirikiri Maximum Prison have complained about slow and sometimes unfair judicial process as well as the subhuman conditions they are facing.
The inmates told the National Human Rights Commission during the commencement of the 2012 South-West Zonal prison audit, that many of them had been awaiting trial for years. They added that some of the convicts were facing health challenges due to lack of health facilities in the prison.
Health problems
A death row inmate, Matthew Nwokocha, who is asthmatic, complained that due to the stuffy nature of the cells, he had had frequent asthma attacks. He said the prison’s medical unit had run out of inhalers.
He said, “I was sentenced to death in Imo State in 2006 but was transferred to Kirikiri. When I get asthma attacks, it’s always unbearable. One night I almost died but for one of the doctors that gave me an injection.
“I’ve asked for inhalers and other drugs but they said they don’t have any.”
A doctor at the prison, Hemeson Edwin, said there was need for the government to increase funding especially in the area of health.
Edwin said the prison authorities usually paid for treatment of inmates referred to hospitals outside the facility.
He added that due to lack of funds, all inmates eat the same food even though some of them need special diets due to health challenges.
He said, “All patients, including the diabetic ones are made to eat the same food because that is what we can afford. Inmates who have been referred to hospitals are also made to pay. Recently, a female inmate gave birth through caesarean section and has been bleeding since. We took her to a government hospital and we were made to make down payment.
“When prisoners die, we are also made to pay mortuary fees. The only hospital that gives concession as regards corpses is the Isolo General Hospital and that may soon end because there are moves by the state government to privatise that as well.”
The Controller of Prisons, Abayomi Oguntuase, urged the state government to offer free healthcare to inmates.
“The issue of treating inmates for free has become pertinent. When we don’t have funds, taking an inmate to hospital becomes a problem,” he said.
Awaiting trial inmates and congestion
Some of the inmates complained that the slow judicial process was unfair. One of them, Ogechukwu Obioma, said, “I was brought here in 2005 for robbery and conspiracy and was taken to Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court but I haven’t been to court since then.”
Another inmate, Paul Samuel, said, “I was brought to Kirikiri for alleged robbery in 2005 from Yaba Magistrate’s Court 4 but the Director of Public Prosecutions has yet to issue advice.”
Another inmate, Emmanuel Uzor, said he had been on trial for 11 years despite the fact that witnesses had yet to come forward.
Oguntuase said the congestion was majorly caused by the awaiting trial persons. He said, “The medium prison for instance, has had no less than 2,400 inmates at any point in time this year as opposed to its capacity of 1,500. The cells are no longer conducive for habitation.”
Aged, long-standing inmates seek release
Some of the old inmates pleaded with the government to release them as they no longer posed a threat to society. One of such inmates, Steven Ojoko, convicted of robbery, said he had been in Kirikiri for 34 years.
He said, “I was brought to Kirikiri in 1978 and was convicted in 1984 for robbery. I was initially sentenced to death but my sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. I beg the relevant authorities to release me. I am old and reformed.”
Another inmate, Edet Akpan, 52, who has been in prison for 30 years for robbery and another inmate incarcerated in 1984 for attempted robbery, Ibrahim Lasisi, urged the government to release them.
It was learnt that the oldest inmate is 82 years.
NHRC canvasses increased funding, speedy trial
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, NHRC, Prof. Ben Angue, urged the judiciary to address the problem of prolonged trial to ensure fairness.
Angue said prisoners had the right to life and deserved to be taken care of, adding that a country’s human rights index was most times judged by the condition of its prisons.
He said, “A trial is no longer fair when it goes on for too long. For instance, a trial spanning 11 years could affect the witness’ ability to recollect.
“If after 11 years, such a person is found not guilty, how would you compensate the person for the years lost? Some inmates are innocent, many of them are victims of false allegation or were arrested by the police during raids and branded as armed robbers. I’m not saying criminals should go scot free but the innocent ones should not be criminalised.
“The cost of N200 for the daily feeding of an inmate is too low and government needs to increase funding. Some prisoners need to be on special diet due to health conditions and it is their right.”
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